Clem Hill's Reminiscences

player from his own state in the team. As a matter of fact Noble first favoured Laver, but when the decision was reached it was unanimous. Hopkins did well with the ball whenever he was given the opportunity. He was overshadowed by men like Trumble, Noble and Saunders. In a match against Cambridge University he took 7 for 10, and he created a sensation in the second Test at Lord’s by dismissing Ranjitsinhji and Fry before they had scored. Of the five Test matches played Australia won two, and two were drawn, and England won the last. We played the first at Birmingham. England declared with 9 for 376. The Australians were all out for 36 in less than one and a half hours, Rhodes taking 7 for 17. Braund secured my wicket by a piece of brilliant work. He was fielding at first slip. Noticing that a ball sent down by Hirst was on my leg he ran across to the leg side and took a smart catch. It was wonderful anticipation. We had lost 2 for 46 in the second innings when rain came down in torrents. There was no further play and the game was abandoned. The rain got us into a bad position and got us out again with a draw. The second Test at Lord’s was ruined by rain, play being restricted to an hour and three quarters on the opening day. There were at least three invalids in the Australian team. They went out on to the ground in mufflers and sweaters. It was so cold that the bowlers could hardly feel the ball in their hands. There was no play after the first day. A London newspaper wrote: Does your circulation fail, Kangaroo, Got the frost-bite in your tail, Kangaroo Do you find it hard to play When it’s hailing half the day, And it’s even cold for me, Kangaroo? The wet weather, as it did not permit of play, gave our invalids a chance to recover. The third [Test], played at Sheffield, went to the credit of Australia, the margin being 145 runs. This was the game in which Armstrong took his great catch in second slips to dismiss Tyldesley. He dived out his right hand at one travelling at great pace and the ball stuck. In the opinion of some members of the team it was a great catch; others thought it was the greatest fluke. This was a fine win with a good wicket right through. Noble, turning the ball sharply from the off, and making pace from the wicket, was almost unplayable. He secured 5 for 51 and 6 for 52 – truly a wonderful performance. Noble always held the ball with first finger and thumb, whereas most bowlers to impart spin use two or three fingers. He had great strength in his first finger, and a corn had grown on it through using it so much when bowling. In this match Trumper made 62 in 50 minutes and Barnes in the first innings took 6 for 49. 15 Mourning cards wasted: great Test finish at Manchester The Australian cricketers who toured England in 1902 were never beaten until the last ball was bowled. So confident were the English cricket writers of winning the Test at Manchester, that they would not hear of defeat: it was only a His Third English Tour 63